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Massage is a treatment which aims to relax, revive and heal the body. There are many different styles of massage, used to treat a range of emotional and physical health problems. But with so many styles, how do you decide which type is best for you?

A massage can be quite daunting for a first-timer. If you’ve taken the first step to contact a therapist, the next thing is booking a treatment and well, turning up.

So, what exactly is a massage?

A massage is the stroking, kneading, rolling and pressing of the skin and muscles. While there are many different styles of massage, each with different origins and aims, they all have the same idea – in some way, they will make you feel good.

Some styles focus on soothing muscles and reducing pain; others on stress relief, relaxation and increasing energy levels, and some aim to improve specific physical conditions. To decide which one is for you, you will need to know what it is you...

Thinking about becoming a Reiki practitioner? We speak to Therapy Directory member Jenny Newman about the far reaching uses of Reiki.

As part of our student series, we seek to uncover the different ways complementary therapies can be used once your receive your qualifications. Today, we speak to Reiki practitioner Jenny Newman about her Reiki journey, and find out why it took her to Bosnia.

I have always been spiritual and connected to nature and discovering hidden gems in the countryside is a joy for me. I was in a particularly bad place in my life, and needed to change my path. I realised that meditation and mindfulness was what I did naturally, through these disciplines I discovered Reiki.

Reiki is within us all, regardless if we have been ‘attuned’ into the system, which is a very western ideology. Reiki has certainly been part of my life since the day I was born.

I wasn’t consciously aware of it, I just felt happy being in the fields and woods and feeling the connection to all...

As part of our student series, we talk to Reiki student and Therapy Directory Membership Services executive Hannah Ervin about her journey so far.

Hi Hannah! Firstly, can you tell us what drew you to Reiki initially? Did you have experience with complementary therapies before?

I’m not exactly sure when I became aware of Reiki. It just seemed to keep coming across my radar. I especially warmed to the Reiki principles and the idea of being connected to the world around.

Once you decided you wanted to learn how to practice Reiki, where did you look for training courses and how did you pick the one you’re on?

While investigating, I came across several online courses. I signed up to one but quickly realised that, although interesting, there was an essential element missing (later I found out that person-to-person training is an integral part of Reiki). However, as my interest grew I found myself talking about it more.

My sister mentioned a friend who practices and teaches, so I jumped at the chance to meet her. When...

All of us can become plagued with negativity from time to time. It may be coming from other people or, more often than not, it may come from ourselves.

Self-doubt in particular tends to stem from experiences we’ve had in the past. There may be conversations or incidents that are lingering in your mind. This negative energy can become stored in the body, making it difficult to let go of.

Therapy Directory interviews Reiki healer Sophie Masi to understand what Reiki is and how it can support well-being.

Described as an energy healing therapy, we ask Therapy Directory member Sophie Masi a few questions about Reiki, Reiki drum healing and what you can expect from a Reiki session.

For those who haven’t heard of it before, could you explain what Reiki is?

Reiki was developed in Japan by Mikao Usui in the 1920s and was originally a journey to enlightenment. By working on themselves, pupils would find healing.

But in the west, people are busier; they have less time to do endless meditations so only the healing part of the system has been emphasised. So Reiki is presented as a complementary therapy in the west. Reiki is a simple energy method and it is based on the idea that energy channels or meridians run through our body.

An idea that many systems also support like acupuncture, Chinese medicine, Tai chi to state only a...

Autumn is often the opportunity for a new start. It is a more discreet, personal time for change than the beginning of the New Year.

Over these colder months, we want to focus on “raising our vibration, and keeping it high”. These vibrations refer to reaching a peaceful state of well-being and finding room to detox, destress and unwind.

Where you are matters, the clutter and bad lighting can greatly affect your mood. Our home is where we feel comfortable and safe, if it is not a nice space to be in, your well-being will be affected. Take a few minutes every day to clear the clutter or treat yourself to some special trinkets for your desk! Adding something as simple as a plant can boost your mood and improve your energy.

Be kind

If you are constantly fixating on your worries and stresses, take some time out of your day to do something for another person. Swapping your focus to brightening someone else’s day will...

We have compiled a list of ideas to consider both before, and after your Reiki session.

It is important to consult your Reiki practitioner and ask for their recommendations, as the techniques you practise will need to fall in line with your unique healing path.

What to do before your session:

Relax and reflect

Take some time to breathe, sit and reflect.

Try to do this at least 30 minutes before your session in order to recognise how your body is feeling and acknowledge your emotions, thoughts or physical reactions.

Eat and hydrate

Making sure you have eaten and are keeping hydrated prior to your session is important for your comfort and focus levels. If you are hungry or thirsty, you will be uncomfortable and unable to focus on the healing.

However, try to avoid eating a heavy meal otherwise your body will be using its energy to digest, rather than directing it at your treatment.

Reiki is a non-invasive therapy that passes ‘healing energy’ through the palms to the recipient. It aims to address the flow of energy that is often hindered by stress or illness.

Reiki can be highly relaxing and is believed to help with a number of problems, from helping reduce alcohol cravings and smoking habits to improving general well-being.

When your life energy is low, it is likely you will feel weak and unmotivated. Using Reiki to strengthen this energy can help your body remain healthy and fight off illness.

While Reiki is used to help fight off physical ailments; bad thoughts and negative feelings can affect your life energy. The natural flow of this energy can be disrupted with low self-esteem and negativity, Reiki is a treatment that can keep your physical and emotional well-being healthy.

The therapy uses the palms of the hands. They are placed lightly on or around the body of the patient – the healing energy from the hands of the practitioner flows through the body, making them feel relaxed and offering a sense of decreased anxiety.

If you're interested in learning Reiki, take a look at our guide to the attunement levels.

Whether you want to train to become a Reiki practitioner, or you simply want to learn more about the therapy, it can help to understand the associated terminology. In Reiki there are typically three (sometimes four) levels that can be attained when training. These levels are often referred to as attunements.

This attunement is what makes Reiki different to other energy healing therapies. A Reiki Master performs the ceremony, and its aim is to open up the main energy channels in the student’s body – allowing universal energy (known as Qi or Chi) to flow more freely.

This process allows Reiki to do what it’s meant to – open and clear blockages of energy. This opening allows the student to experience significant energy changes and many will experience a period of self-growth. Take a look at what you can expect as a Reiki student:

We explore the spiritual energy healing practice and how it can revitalise your mind, body and soul.

Reiki is a complementary therapy that has evolved from ancient teachings, meditation and the work of Japanese Buddhist, Dr Mikao Usui.

The practice essentially involves the passing of energy through the median energy lines and the seven main chakra points of the human body to help ease stress, tension and pain.

Reiki can also be used to promote spiritual development and growth, and a number of Reiki practitioners and enthusiasts follow Dr Usui’s famous Five Reiki Principles.

These are outlined below for you to try for yourself and discover new meaning and purpose.

1. Just for today, I will not worry

“Worry is like a rocking chair; it gives you something to do but gets you nowhere”. This quote perfectly sums up how worry and anxiety effects your mind and body – sapping it of energy and making you feel overwhelmed. This Reiki principle encourages you to let go of worry to promote healing in the...